Hey Matt, I feel your pain. We've been in our new house for almost two years now but I can tell you that the pain and suffering you endure now is well worth it when you find the "right" house. The last house we built was a small cape cod on a small lake, we loved the location but ultimately wanted to move so we could send our children to the same school district that my wife and I work for. It took us nearly a year to sell the house and find a new one, add to that the fact that we had litterally two day in which to vacate our old has and move into our new house. Sometimes that's the way it works depending on the signing.
Anyway, when we were looking for our new home, I definitely had "certain needs" that had to be met due to the fact that I am a rabid model railroader and avid SW collector. I just couldn't rebuild "the sanctuary" in any old basement, it had to be BIG. Fortunately everything worked out and all of my wifes, as well as my, needs were met. The new digs turned out to be a cozy new ranch with a good-sized basement (50'x30') that I ended up dry walling and carpeting myself in the last year. I love finishing basements because it's like adding an entirely new floor to your home.
Point is, don't worry too much becuase you WILL find the perfect place to call home. And when you do the sky is the limit man!